February 12th, 2005: The rebirth of the Democratic Party

[Padraig18]

For the first time in several months, I again have hope for my party and for my country. I make no apologies for being a long-term, unabashed fan of Howard Dean's, and while I do not believe him to have superhuman powers, I do believe that he is to our party in 2005 what Abraham Lincoln was to our Republic in 1860--- the right person at the right time.

Howard Dean brings to our party's highest leadership post the following badly-needed qualities: he is highly intelligent, he is principled, he is honest, he is plain-spoken, he is passionate and, most importantly, he is unafraid of Republicans. I firmly believe that Howard Dean can help us to reach out to many of those who should be 'our' voters, but are not. He can credibly speak to the issue of fiscal responsibility, because he not only 'talks the talk', but has a proven record of 'walking the walk' as Governor of Vermont.

We have a lot of work to do--- massive amounts--- but we now have someone who means to help us to do it, and who is committed to doing much of the very hardest parts of it himself.

:D :kick:

[brainshrub]

1. You are spot-on.

I'm not worried about Republicans tring to kill the phoenix.. It's the DLC and other conservative Democrats that we gotta watch out for.

[Padraig18]

4. I'm not afraid of the DLC, at *this* point.

I seriously doubt the will obstruct Gov. Dean, because at this moment, we share a common cause; regaining at least one chamber of the Congress. It's after 2006 that I worry most about what the DLC may do, especially if we manage to divide Congress.

[coloradodem2005]

2. It's only a day away.

Tomorrow, we will have our party back.

[Dyedinthewoolliberal]

3. My concern

centers on those who do not see the qualities Mr.Dean has to offer.We are already seeing the spin on who sets policy and what his (Deans) responsibilities will be.
It seems the Democratic kingmakers, those behind the scene, do not like the fact Mr. Dean is SO passionate. Many stories talk about how he is not in touch with the average Democrat. I think that's a lot of BS. I consider myself an 'average' Democrat and Mr.Dean sounds like the tonic my party needs................ :shrug:

[Padraig18]

5. I know a LOT of Dems who didn't support him as a candiate who now...

... are VERY supportive of him as our chairman. I'm with you on the 'average Democrat' thing.

:)

[WilliamPitt]

6. They'll see the light

The douchebags threatening to withhold donations will see their shiny seats at the trough removed when the Dean Machine revs up a fundraising drive that buries all previous expectations. The shrinking violets in Red and Blue states will come on board once we start making gains.

Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead. Yarg. :)

[Padraig18]

8. Isn't your dad the MS state chairman?

Yarg, indeed!

:)

[WilliamPitt]

9. Alabama

They like Dean down there. :)

[Padraig18]

10. Cool!

:)

[Beetwasher]

7. Yes, I Agree. Dean is Principled and Passionate and a FIGHTER

Just what we need...He's not gonna bring a knife to a gunfight...

[xpat]

11. It's too early to hyperventilate about Dean

He was the DLC's fair-haired boy until he went off the rails and opposed the Iraq invasion. Other than that, he has never done anything significant to oppose the corporate oligarchy that funds the DLC.

Let's keep our eyes wide open, keep our minds open and see who he crawls into bed with.

If he turns his back on the oligarchy and hooks his wagon to the grass roots, that'll be nice. If he starts pushing anti-corporate stuff like

1) Pull out of Iraq now
2) Back off Iran and Syria
3) Single-payer health insurance, private insurers need not apply
4) Reduce war budget
5) War crimes tribunal

I'll become a believer.

[WilliamPitt]

12. 5) War crimes tribunal

You're never going to see that, ever.

If it didn't happen after Vietnam, when we had a Congress, it won't happen now.

[xpat]

13. You're right.

It's too much to expect our representatives to do the right thing. As I said, let's see whether Dean really does go after the oligarchy.

[eridani]

15. He doesn't have to push it

He helps the grassroots get organized better, and then WE push it. What's more of a blank slate than "You have the power"? It's up to us to fill in the rest--power to do what?

[Padraig18]

14. Kick

:kick: